Alabama unemployment rate down to 4.9 percent, lowest since 2008

Alabama's unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent in May, the lowest rate in the state since March 2008, Gov. Kay Ivey announced.

The rate dropped from 5.4 percent in April. It's down almost a full percentage point since March, when the rate was 5.8 percent. It was also 5.8 percent in May 2016.

The rate announced today is a preliminary, seasonally adjusted rate. It is higher than the national rate, which is 4.3 percent, a 16-year low.

The Associated Press reported that the states with the largest percentage gains in jobs in May were Alaska, Alabama and Louisiana, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

One key measure showed that the number of people employed in Alabama in May was the fourth highest for any month since that record was kept.

Members of Ivey's cabinet joined her for the announcement in the state Capitol and applauded the numbers.

"The numbers we celebrate today indicate what happens when people work together, we work hard together and we work strategically to declare that Alabama is open for business," Ivey said.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wilcox at 10.9 percent and Clarke at 8 percent and Lowndes at 7.4 percent.

Counties with the lowest rates were Shelby at 3.1 percent, Elmore at 3.4 percent and Cullman at 3.5 percent.

The current population survey, conducted by the Census Bureau, showed there were 2,089,217 employed Alabamians in May, about 500 more than in April and about 50,000 more than in May 2016. The survey sample size is about 1,500 households..

"We believe that the unemployment numbers are important," Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said. "The real story is the employment numbers behind them."

The Alabama Department of Labor compiles a separate number on wage and salary employment by surveying about 20,000 businesses.

It found that wage and salary employment in May was 2,014,600, an increase of 13,100 over April. The total number is the fourth highest since the state began keeping that record in 1939.

It was exceeded only in December 2007, (2,026,700); November 2007, (2,022,000); and June 2007, (2,018,400).

There were about 6,100 more jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector than the previous month. The construction sector grew by about 3,100 jobs and the manufacturing sector by about 1,500.

"We've been strategic in our approach in terms of making sure that Alabamians know there are jobs out there, and I think our message is getting across," Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said.

Ivey, Canfield, and others are preparing to go to the Paris Air Show next week, an event they say is crucial to attracting more jobs to the state.

"It's all about building relationships," Ivey said. "People do business with folks that they know and feel comfortable with."

Washington said confidence in the economy is a key factor contributing to more hiring. Washington said four job categories are consistently in high demand -- truck drivers, retail managers, registered nurses and welders.